Flashlight



.11111.27, 1942. J, GUS Y 2,271,421

FLASHLIGHT Filed Jan. 29,1940

\. ........IJ!L. L

Patented Jan. 27, 1942 UNITED STATE s PATENT oFFlcEpljf v FLA'snuGn'r Joseph A. Gits, Chicago, Ill., assigner to Gita Molding Corporation tion of Illinois Application January 29, 1940, Serial No. 316,122

, Chicago, lll., a corpora-A This invention relates to a nashlight and more particularly to a new and improved construction of flashlight. f

In devices of this type, numerous parts including a switch assembly have heretofore been used to complete the circuit between the battery terminals and the light bulb. The switch was disposed intermediate the ends of the device, either exteriorly upon the 'shellto be gripped by the user so as to be readily accessible for operation or interiorly within the shell with the' handle of the switch protruding. This location of the switch, as well as the use of a separate circuit making and breaking device `comprising the assembly, resulted in they employment 'of numerous intermediate current-conducting parte and end bushings acting as terminal ends, al1

providing a simple construction involving the employment of an inexpensive form o! currentconducting member that may be disposed lengthwise ci' the device and movable longitudinallyy whereby a" simple form of manually operable actuating means may also be employed to make and break thecircuit through a sliding movement of this member lengthwise of the device whereby it win-maintain a closedV circuit relation at the rear end with a coil -spring holding the batteries -and bulb assembled in axial alignment, and make and break the circuit at the iront end by a sliding l engagement with a current-conducting-part conarranged in a manner to increase cost of manufacture and provide a design that is less reliable in operation and easily apt to become inoperative after use for a short time. hand, the presence yof a separate switch structure upon the handle and the requirement of numerous intermediate current-conducting parts presented certain insulation problems between these parts, the batteries and the shell.'

'An object of the invention resides vbroadly in providing a new and improved construction of ilashlight that provides for a simple, 'inexpenfsive and emcient form of structure including preferably a longitudinally disposed contact b ar adapted to be slidably operated within and lengthwise of the shell to make and break the circuit at one end and to maintain its circuit relation at the opposite end by the riding engagement whereby the various and numerous cur` rent-conducting parts and the switch, heretofore carried by the shell, are eliminated and a more reliable and sturdy device provided.

- A further object ot the invention resides .inl

the provision of an improved type of handle or shell in connection with the current-carrying parts provided therein whereby the problem of insulation is simplified and a simple, eilicient and inexpensive arrangement of parts may be provided. v

A further object of the invention resides in providing in combination with the arrangement of parts within, a. new and improved form of shell whereby an exceptionally simple design of current-carrying means may be provided between the ends of the device and the usual relatively expensive form of switch carried upon the body eliminated.

A still further object of the invention resides in 0n the other nected to one side of the bulb. ,This .part is usually the reflector thatforms a part `oi the assembly carrying the bulb and 4attached to the cap. However, any other part maybe used in-v stead in the present construction.

Otherobjectsand advantages of the invention will be apparent from lthe following detail de'- sription taken in connection with the `accompanying drawing in which:

Figure 1 illustrates in elevation a ashlight embodying the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a longitudinaly section taken on line 2 2 of Fig. 1, the current-'carrying parts being in open circuit position;

Fig. 3 is a. similar view illustrating these parts I in closed circuit position;

Fig. 4 illustrates the parts employed to'conduct the current between opposite 'battery terminals v ducting member in cross section to illustrate the manner in which it is bowed or curved crosssectionally to secure a ilrm surface engagement with the coil spring at the rear Aend of the shell.

A flashlight embodying thefpresent invention is illustratedinth'e drawing and comprises an elongated shell I ared at the front en d as indicated at 2, and threaded at 3 to receive an internally threaded capdl'adapted to carry a lens 5 and an assembly comprising a reilector 6, alight socket 'l and a. bulb l. It will be understood that shell l is elongated to receive one or more batteropposite ends of shell I.

ploying batteries of different design that require a different stacking arrangement within shell I.

Shell I is preferably made of insulation material. It is found that thermo-plastic material is very suitable for the purpose. It may be molded in the form shown at low cost, particularly if molded under pressure by injection. Anysuitable thermo-plastic material may be used that has suitable insulation qualities. thermo-plastic material has an additional advantage ofbeing somewhat yieldable or resilient I nd that so that it will not fracture, chip or be dented when thedevice is dropped. Cap, 4 may be made of the same material. I also find that lens 5 may be 'made of a transparent thermo-plastic material that has the same index of refraction as glass in' order to reduce the'possibility of breakage of lens 5 in the event the device is dropped. The ,method of molding shell I is disclosed and claimed in my copending application,

- Serial No. 350,379,1'lled August 3, 1940.

At the rear end of this kelongated or cylindrical shell, a plurality of ribs 9 is formed upon the inner wall. Ribs 9 actas a seat or stop against which a coil spring I abuts. Ribs 3 provide a.

plurality of shoulders II of a dimension adapted to permit coil spring I0 to nest thereagainst so that it will be firmly held in its seated position at this end of shell I when the batteries are inserted and cap 4 threaded upon the front end of shell I with lens and the reflector and socket assembly in position, as shown in Figs. 1 to 4, inclusive. 4If

desirable, the rear end of shell I may have a. threaded plug I3 that is readily removable either for the purpose of affording access to the interior of shell I at the rear end or for thepurpose of carrying anextra light bulb at this end of the shell, as illustrated in Fig. 6.

Any suitable form of reflector 6 andsocket 1 may be employed, although I prefer that reflector until flange I1 abuts seat I8. Socket I is then threaded into position upon annular extensions I3, spring I6 being interposedl so as to provide good electrical contact betweenterminal I4 and the end terminal of bulb 8. This reflector and bulb socket assembly is then secured to cap 4 by means of a-spring wire 23 shaped in any suitable manner, so that it-will properly seat in an annular groove 24 in cap 4. As shown in Fig. 5. portions of the wire will seat in groove 24 and other portions will bear against the outside peripheral-surface of reflector 6. In assembling this structure, as above described, lens 5 is first placed into cap 4, so that the reflector and socket assembly holds lens Ii in position.

When batteries designated A and B are arranged in end to end relation, as illustrated in the drawing, `the rear battery terminal may comprise the end plate of battery B, as is well known in battery construction of the type disclosed, which terminal 25 will firmly press against coil spring III to compress the same and hold it against seat II. Coil spring I! may be slightly slmallr in diameter than the interior diameter of s e A longitudinally movable current carrying contact bar au is disposed lengthwise or sneu l between this shell and batteries A and B, the rear j end 3| of bar 30 being adapted for riding engage- 30 ment lover one or more convolutions of coil spring I0 and the front end 32 of contact bar 30 being adapted to engage the curved peripheral surface of vreflector 6 4when contact bar 38 is'actuated to circuit closing position. Shell I is formed with an opening 33 therein and a manually operated actuating member 34 .-is adapted to ride upon the outer surface of shell I over opening 33. Any suitable connection may be provided between actuating member 34 and contact bar 30 whereby 6 be somewhat arcuate in shape about its pea riphery and socket 1 be preferably provided with a terminal I4. Terminal I4 may be formed by riveting a collar or the like, so that its ends form uptumed flanges, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3, the outside flange preferably abutting one of the battery terminals I5, while the insideflange may receive one terminal of the circuit of light bulb 8 in current conducting relation as by an interposed coil spring I6. Coil spring I6 exerts pressure axially with respect to` bulb 8 so that its flange I1 forming the other side of" the light circuit abuts an annular flange A'I8 of reflector 6. reflector 6 is placed in the circuit of `light bulb 8. Reflector E continues in its formation from annular flange'4 I8 in an exteriorly threaded annular extension I9 adapted to be received in a correspondingly threaded head portion 2U of socket 1. Head portion 20 has in effect a cham ber 2| which continues inwardly in reduced form to `carry shank 22 of bulb 8 and coil spring I6 interposed between bulb 8 and. terminal I4. In

Thus.'

placing the lparts of this assembly together, bulb 8 is inserted into reflector 6 through the rear end the latter will longitudinally move back and forth between the wall of'shell I and batteries A and B and maintain good electrical contact at its rear end 3| with coil spring III and make and break the circuit at its front end'32 `with reflector 6 when actuating member 34 is manually operated enteriorly of shell I. A very emcient form of simple and inexpensive construction of bar 3l may include a raised portion 35 that will ride in slot 33. A collar 36 may be secured to raised portion 35. Collar 36 may be internally threaded to give a screw 31. Actuating member 34 may ce provided with a central opening 38 to receive collar 36 and screw 31, as illustrated in Figs. 2 and 3|.- If actuating member 34 is made of thermo-plastic material, or the same material as shell I, it is desirable to employ an anti-friction strip 39 between actuating member 34 and shell I,'so as to make the movement of actuating member 34 easy to eiect by the hand of the operator gripping shell I.

The exact manner of disposition of contact bar 30 between batteries A and wall of shell I might be different in certain instances from that shown in the drawing, but I ilnd that a very eillcient and easy longitudinal movement of this contact bar 30 may be obtained `by providing raised portions 4I! and 4I, whereby this contact bar'engages the inner surface of shell I -at a number of points and 1 likewise engages batteries A and B at a number of points. With respect to shell I, contact bar 30 will engage at points 40, 4I and at rear end 3|. With respect to batteries A and B, contact bar 33 will engage at points 42, 43, 44 and 45. With contact bar 30 made resilient or out of spring material, it will ,be apparent that batteries A and B will be firmly held together in stacked relation whereby it mayfbe easily moved longitudinally between these" parts without interference and maintain good electrical contact with coil spring I at the rear end and in'g'ood electricalcontact with reflector 6 at the front end when 'in closed circuit position.

It will be observed in Figs. 3, 4 and 7 that I prefer to make the contact bar slightly arcuate in cross section whereby to conform .its surfaces -differently, contact bar l'will be disposed Vin bar 30 so that the current may be conducted forwardly'to the front endthrough this member. and close the circuit when the latter is slidably moved forwardly to contact reflector [without the use somewhat vto the peripheries of thebatteries andV the inner surface of shell I at points of engagement, and also to conform its surface atthefrontA end 32` particularly to the peripheral surface of reflector 6 and its surface at its rear end 3I to` the contour of the convolutions of coil springV I0 Fig. 4 very aptly illustrates the relation of contact bar 30 with the parts contained within shell 1` I. This figure also illustrates the few parts required in a flashlight structure embodyingl my purpose of clearly'illustrating the part employed to conduct the' current between opposite battery o' invention. The shell thereof isomitted for'tliefterminals I5 and 25 and .the'light bulb interposed in the circuit; The bowed or'arcuated formation cross sectionally of rear end 13| mayv be slightly greater than the lremaining forward part, vthis rear end 3| also being bent, as indicated at tip 41, so as to bear slightly downwardly. A downi wardly .formed bead .48 isgprovided in rear end 3| n for the purpose of abuttingor locking ag'ains'tjth'eV rearmost convolution oLcoilspring IIIl that rests .against seat I I of ribs 9. Bead 48 functions there-' fore to assure good electric Vcontact with coil spring III and also to preventcontact lbar from being moved. forwardlytoo `i'ar to be disengaged from coil spring I0. Forward end 32 of contact bar 35) is bowed slightly, as .statedabove, to make surface contact with the periphery of reflector 6.

as shown in Fig. 3. Itwill be observed'thlt. forward end 32 may ride the periphery of head 20- of socket I and conformy to theishape thereof .by-

reason of its arcuatefshape cross section. When operation".

In the present construction, bar' 3B is' thejonly current conducting part between 'p.osite ends:V of the device.l When the outer covering-of batteries A and B is made of yinsulating materialv i Shen I isof thermo-plastic material, estructural; i yprovided thatfrenuires no insulation for. bar 3l other than the parts themselves. Riding engages ment of end vr3l `of bar 3ll'over several ofthe' cqn`. j. volutions of spring Il 'eliminates any require? ment for metallic bushing insertswithintheshell l I at this end morder' to complete the circuit.withv rear-terminal 25- o'f `battery I B.jOnly springIlI seated against shoulders 'I If, which, fb'eing .fof f thermo-plastic in iatei'iail,` eliminates' tl ie need of yinsulation therefore, is necessary at therear end of the batteries. Also. noparts'otherthan reflector itself are necessary at the frontend, bar, 30 makingand breakingcontact and,lying- ,be-y tween two insulating members',v namely,jthe shell andbatteries. Hence, asimplestruc'tureispro.; vided that is Vinexpensive and v eryemcient. L` f Without further elaboration, 'lthe foregoing will so fully explain the gist of my 'invention thatothers may, by applying vcurrent knowledge,' readily Y. adopt thev same for use runder'varying conditions i .of service, `vwithout .eliminating c ertain features..

1. A nasiinghtvcemprising a sneu of insulation o' material, alens `carrying capatA one end,an as,-

sembly comprising a reflector', bulb and socket also carried by said cap', a'coil spring mountedfwithin.

said shell at'its Opposite endQthSDacebetween said `socket and said spring adapted to receive batmoved to circuit closingposition through for- I ward movement of actuating member 34,. front end 32 of contact barslides-forwardly upon the peripheral surface of Vreflector 6, thereby clos Y.

ing the circuit of light bulb 8. Socket 'I is prefer?.-y 1

ably of insulation material so that the circuit is only closed when vforward end 32 is broughtto 'f e y l vmaterial adapted to receive one or more batteries bear against the periphery v.of reflector E.

teries or the like therein, and an elongated j bar riding'over and upon said coil spring vin contactual engagement therewith4 and vbeing movable forv wardly without breaking said contactualengagementwhereby kto make electrical' contactual en-` gagement at its opposite end withy said reflector, and means accessible exteriorly of said shell and connected to'said bar for actuatingfthe same.

parentvthat a very simple and eilicient form of construction for a flashlight is Vdisclosed herein.

Aside from coil spring :III'in the rear end'of M y I for the purpose offholding batteries inaxial alignment and one terminal of the iight buib'jm current conducting relation withone of the bat-A tery terminals, longitudinally disposed contact 1 bar 30 is the only vcurrent conducting member emi ployed between opposite sides of thecircuit. Contact bar 30 novelly maintains. electrical relation -with coil sprng I0, so that by movement'forwardly it may close the circuit when brought into contact with the vperiphery ofreflector 8. By means of this sliding contact bar 30, I am able to elimi nate a. switch member usually disposed upon or within the shell to open and close the light circuit. Shell I may be molded in a single operation and does not require metallic .inserts inthe formof Ybushings or the like. It permits coil spring I0'to novelly maintain electrical relation with contact .2. A flashlight comprising a shell of 'insulation or the ylike providing battery terminals for the opposite sides of a light circuit, 'a reflector at one end, a bulb adapted for electrical connection'with said reflector and one of said battery terminals', a coil spring at the opposite end of said shell 'acting as a stop for'said batteries and=engaglng said otherbattery terminal, andan elongated" contact bar movably engaging said coil spring te slidably ride thereover to maintain electrical `contact therewith and being movable forward without breaking said movable engagement at saidcoil spring to engage said Vreflector at the opposite end, and manual means accessible exteriorly of said shell and connected to said bar for actuating the same.

3. A flashlight comprising a shell of insulation material adaptedtoreceiveandl carry one or more batteriesor the like providing Vbattery ter-f mlnals for the opposite sides of a light circuit, a reiiector at one end of said shell, a bulb adapted for electrical connection with said reilector and @11ml nfd. Secured to I'nfe bythe, l o

Y one of said battery terminals, a coil spring at the opposite end engaging another of the battery terminals and holding said batteries in circuit-making relation between said bulb and said coil spring, and a longitudinally movable contact bar slidably riding over and upon said coil spring forwardly to said reflector for engagement therewith, said contact bar being somewhat resilient and arcuate in cross section so as to nest between said shell and said batteries and make maximum contactual engagement with said coil spring and said reflector.

4. A flashlight comprising a shell of insulation materialadapted to receive and carry one or more batteries or the like, a reflector at one end, a bulb adapted to make electrical connection with said reflector and toibe electrically connected to one o1 the terminals of the batteries, a coil spring against which said batteries are adapted to be pressed at the opposite end of said shell, a shoulder at said opposite end of said shell forming a seat for said coil spring, said coil spring making electrical connection with another of the terminals of said batteries, and a longitudinally movable contact bar slidably riding over4 and upon said ccd1 spring forwardly to said reflector forengagement therewith, said shell having an opening therein, a manually operated member adapt- `ed to ride exteriorly upon said shell over said opening, and a mechanical connection extending from said manual member through said openlng to said contact bar.

5. A flashlight comprising a shell adapted to receive and carry one or more batteries or the like, a bulb and lens assembly at one end of said shell adapted for contact with one of the terminals of said batteries, a coil spring seated in the opposite end of said shell and making electrical contact with one oi the other terminals oi said batteries, a longitudinally slidable lcontact bar nested between said shell and batteries and having riding contact at one end upon the periphery of at least one of the convolutions of said coil spring, said contact bar being so shaped that it rmly presses against the periphery of said spring, said assembly including a contact surface, said contact bar having its opposite end so shaped that it rmly presses against said contact surface for surface engagement therewith longitudinally slidable contact bar having per-y manent riding engagement upon the periphery oi said coil spring at one end thereof and a make and break engagement with said assembly at the opposite end thereof, said contact bar being slidable along the inner surface of said shell, and

slidable means exterior Vof saidshell, lsaid means being connected to said contact bar for actuating the same.

7. A ashlight comprising an elongated cylindrical shell of thermo-plastic material having a cap at one end of the same or like material, said cylindrical shell being adapted to receive one or more Vbatteries of substantially cylindrical shape therein, ribs formed at the opposite endv within said shell, a coil spring seated against said ribs to make contact with one of the terminals of said batteries, an assembly at the cap end oi said shell including a metallicv arcuate shaped reflector and a bulb in electricalrelation on one side of its circuit with said reilector, the opposite side of the circuit of said bulb being in electrical relation with the other terminal of said batteries, and a metallic bar comprising current carrying means between said coil spring and said reilector, said metallic bar being curved invcross section to adapt itself longitudinally between said shell and said batteries and to be readily slidable longitudinally between the same, the cross section of said metallic bar at its ends providing surface engagement with the periphery of said coil spring and said arcuate reflector when actuated to close the circuit of said bulb, and manual means actuable from the exterior of said shell for actuating said metallic bar.

JOSEPH A. GITS. 

